The Pentagon could announce as soon as this weekend a plan
to bring 400,000 furloughed civilian employees back to work as soon as Monday, according to CNN.

Quoting two unnamed Department of Defense officials, CNN
said the plan to allow workers to return to their jobs is in the final stages of
being written and approved.

The plan comes on the
heels of the passage of the Pay our Military Act, which ensures uniformed
personnel, as well as those that support the armed forces, can remain on the
job with pay. Lawmakers are urging a broader interpretation of that law to
allow DOD workers - which represent about half of all federal workers home without
a pay during the shutdown - to return to the job.

CNN said the details, including how employees would be notified,
are being finalized.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel did not comment on the
plan, but did confirm DOD is looking at the law in an effort to bring employees
back to work.

"We were forced by law to furlough many, many of our
civilian workers. But we're trying to find a solid legal interpretation here in
the law that can bring back more people in support of our military," Hagel told
reporters with him on a trip to Japan.

Among the details to be determined is which employees are
considered to "support the military" and therefore be covered under the Pay our
Military Act. CNN reports Hagel is pushing for the broadest interpretation of
the act.

"There's no job in our Department of Defense that
doesn't support the military. So, I think theoretically -- I'm not a lawyer,
but I do have some appreciation for common sense, and common sense tells you
that if you're working for the Department of Defense, you're supporting the
defense and the security of America, and you're supporting those who are on the
front lines," Hagel said.